Man Utd have just done something under Van Nistelrooy that they’ve failed to do all season under Ten Hag

Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge of his first, and potentially last, Manchester United game this evening.

While he’ll be well aware that the impending arrival of Ruben Amorim means he was never going to be considered for the job permanently, it didn’t stop him from making a statement to United chiefs that he could, maybe at some stage of his managerial career, be a success with his former club. 

As such, a 5-2 win over Leicester City saw the Reds book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup – a competition they last won in Erik ten Hag’s maiden season in 2022/2023. 

Goals from Casemiro (x2), Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes (x2) got the job done with half an hour to spare at Old Trafford, despite the Foxes’ best attempts to complete a comeback through Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady.

An easy on the eye display from United under Van Nistelrooy

United recorded 23 shots (nine on target) across the 90-minute affair – seven more than the visitors. Per StatmanDave, it’s the most attempts they’ve had on goal this season against Premier League opposition.

Similarly, they never scored five+ goals against PL opposition under Ten Hag, yet managed to do so in the first 59 minutes of Van Nistelrooy’s – albeit short – reign.

The ex-striker is expected to remain in the dugout when Chelsea, who were knocked out of the cup by Newcastle United tonight, travel to Manchester on Sunday afternoon. If Amorim has no choice but to see out his notice period with Sporting Lisbon, Van Nistelrooy will oversee the subsequent matches against PAOK (EL) and Leicester (PL) before the mid-month international break.

Given that Amorim is planning to bring his current coaching staff with him from Portugal to England, Van Nistelrooy is expected to depart United entirely – despite turning down first-team management opportunities in the summer to become an assistant coach with his beloved Reds.